Soil Survey

Before buying a plot a soil investigation and survey should be commissioned in order to assess the type of foundation likely to be necessary. A soil investigation is used to determine the make up of the earth you are excavating to lay the foundations for your new building. It is important to instruct a soil survey at your earliest convenience as it can have a dramatic affect on the design of your house, the size of the building and the cost of the project.

Many projects come unstuck in the early stages without the information provided by a soil survey. You use it as a tool to prove to the building inspectors and insurers that the foundation depths you intend to dig are suitable for the ground conditions.

You may be building in an area with a high water table, in which case a basement may be problematic or in some cases a show stopper! NHBC will insist that you have a soil survey and many insurance backed warranty providers are asking for the same.

The early you instruct a soil survey, the more prepared you can be for the overall cost of the project. If your proposed building is located near trees, you may find that by reducing the width of your building by 300mm (12″) you could save thousands of pounds in foundation costs!

A good quality soil survey and foundation recommendation will cost in the region of £800 to £1,200. We are able to instruct soil surveys on your behalf and will use the information to provide further detailed drawings for setting out the building.

For further information on soil surveys, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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